Fairfax City Criminal History Records

Fairfax criminal history records are handled through the Fairfax Circuit Court, which is the largest trial court in Virginia and serves both the City of Fairfax and Fairfax County as part of the 19th Judicial Circuit. The city is an independent jurisdiction with its own legal identity, even though it sits entirely surrounded by Fairfax County. Criminal cases filed in the city go through the shared circuit court at 4110 Chain Bridge Road. You can search Fairfax criminal records for free through the Virginia Judiciary's online portals or visit the clerk's office in person during regular business hours.

Fairfax City Circuit Court Criminal Records

The Fairfax Circuit Court handles criminal cases for both the City of Fairfax and Fairfax County as part of the 19th Judicial Circuit. It is the largest circuit court in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Fifteen full-time judges hear the full range of civil and criminal cases. The court takes in over 25,000 new cases each year. Clerk John T. Frey oversees the office, which has more than 800 statutory duties under the Code of Virginia.

The Fairfax Circuit Court is a court of record. That means it empanels juries, issues Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, and keeps a full official case record. Decisions from this court can be appealed to the Court of Appeals of Virginia or the Virginia Supreme Court, depending on the type of case. For criminal matters, the clerk maintains all pre-trial motions, discovery materials, court orders, and trial transcripts. The clerk also handles chain of custody for all exhibits admitted at trial.

The Virginia Courts case information portal at vacourts.gov/caseinfo/home links to the searchable circuit court database. Criminal case data dating back to 1987 is available through OCIS. Attorneys may also access case images and documents through the OCRA system, which requires a paid subscription.

The Fairfax Circuit Court website provides a screenshot of the online services available to the public. Visit fairfaxcounty.gov/circuit to see all access options, case search tools, and clerk office resources.

The Fairfax Circuit Court portal provides direct access to case searches, criminal dockets, and clerk services for both the City of Fairfax and Fairfax County.

General District Court in Fairfax City

The Fairfax County General District Court also serves the City of Fairfax. It is located at 4110 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 210, Fairfax, VA 22030. Clerk Susan D. Madsen oversees operations. Hours run Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The criminal division phone number is (703) 246-3305. Traffic cases go through (703) 246-2815. There is also an automated payment and case information line at (703) 246-3764. Additional courtroom divisions operate out of Herndon (765 Lynn Street) and Vienna (127 Center Street South), though mailing must go to the main address.

The General District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings for felony charges. It is the court most residents encounter. Records from this court are retained for ten years from the date of judgment under the Code of Virginia, Section 16.1-69.55. Criminal sexual offense convictions must now be kept for 50 years. Older records stored off-site at County Archives are still accessible by contacting the clerk's office, which will arrange delivery within two to three business days.

It is also worth knowing that criminal records involving cases that have been destroyed by the court may still be obtainable through the Central Records Division of the Fairfax County Police Department at 12099 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035. Call (703) 246-2272 for more information on that option.

Fairfax City Police Department

The Fairfax City Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency for the City of Fairfax. For arrest records, incident reports, and city-specific criminal records, contact the department's records unit directly. The Fairfax County Police Department handles the surrounding county area. Both agencies operate independently but often coordinate on investigations affecting the greater Fairfax area, including the city and nearby communities.

Virginia State Police maintain the Central Criminal Records Exchange, which holds statewide criminal history data from all Virginia jurisdictions including the City of Fairfax. Residents can request their own criminal record through the CARE program. The VSP sex offender registry is also publicly searchable at vsp.virginia.gov.

Search Criminal History in Fairfax City

The best free tool for searching Fairfax criminal records is the OCIS portal at eapps.courts.state.va.us/ocis/search. This system shows criminal and traffic case data from both circuit and general district courts across Virginia, including Fairfax. You can search by party name or case number. Results include charges, hearing dates, dispositions, and case status. Sealed, juvenile, and expunged records do not appear in public searches.

The GDC portal at eapps.courts.state.va.us/gdcourts/ provides a direct search tool for general district court records in Fairfax. Select the Fairfax County court from the list, since the GDC serves both the city and county. The Virginia Courts case information portal at vacourts.gov/caseinfo/home links to all available search tools in one place and is a good starting point for anyone unfamiliar with the state court system.

For in-person access, visit the clerk's office at 4110 Chain Bridge Road during business hours. Staff can look up case files by name or case number. Certified copies of criminal records require a per-page fee. You do not need a FOIA request to access open court records. Those records are governed by Virginia Code Title 17.1, not FOIA.

Note: Because Fairfax City and Fairfax County share the same circuit court, searching "Fairfax" in most online systems will return results for both jurisdictions together.

Virginia State Police Criminal Record Checks

The Virginia State Police run the Central Criminal Records Exchange, which holds statewide conviction and disposition data from all Virginia courts including those serving Fairfax. Access to this data is restricted under Virginia Code § 19.2-389. An individual may request their own criminal record at any time by using Form SP-167 through the VSP CARE program. Visit vsp.virginia.gov/criminal-record-check/ for forms and submission instructions.

The CARE office is located at Virginia State Police, Civil and Applicant Records Exchange, 7700 Midlothian Turnpike, North Chesterfield, VA 23235. Phone: (804) 674-8028. Email: Background_Checks@vsp.virginia.gov. Requests for another person's criminal history through this channel require a notarized signature from both the requester and the subject, except in certain authorized cases defined by statute.

VADOC Inmate Locator

For individuals convicted in Fairfax and sentenced to a Virginia state prison, the Virginia Department of Corrections offers a free public Inmate Locator at vadoc.virginia.gov/general-public/inmate-locator/. The tool lets you search by name and shows the current facility, custody level, and projected release date. People held before trial or sentenced to shorter terms may be held locally rather than in a state facility. For those cases, contact the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, which serves the area.

Criminal Records Access in Fairfax

Virginia circuit court records are public documents under Virginia Code Title 17.1. The Fairfax Circuit Court Clerk maintains all case records for the City of Fairfax and Fairfax County. Any member of the public can inspect non-confidential records at the clerk's office. Copies are available for a standard per-page fee. The court does not require a formal FOIA request to access open court records, because those records fall under Title 17.1, not the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.

A full statewide criminal history report on another person is not freely available to the public. Under Virginia Code § 19.2-389, only certain entities and individuals with a legal purpose can obtain comprehensive criminal history reports. The general public may search open case data through the online portals. But a complete criminal history record goes through the VSP or a court-authorized channel, not through a simple web search.

Juvenile records, adoption records, sealed cases, and expunged records are not open to public inspection. The Fairfax Circuit Court also handles expungement petitions under Virginia law. If a record has been expunged, it will not appear in any public search or database.

Nearby Virginia Cities

These independent cities are near Fairfax in northern Virginia. Each has its own court structure but may share circuit court services with nearby jurisdictions.